Barnet’s representatives on the North London Waste Authority have resigned from their roles because the next meeting clashes with a Jewish holiday. 

Golders Green councillor Dean Cohen and Childs Hill councillor Peter Zinkin left their positions this week after the authority refused to move its September meeting – despite both being unable to attend.

The councillors say they made repeated requests, along with Barnet council leader Councillor Richard Cornelius and council officers, and with nearly four months’ notice, for the NLWA to find a date which at least one of the borough’s representatives could attend.

As a result, Cllr Cornelius and deputy council leader Councillor Daniel Thomas have now taken the positions on the NLWA, which deals with waste from seven London boroughs.

Councillor Dean Cohen said: “Being a vice chairman normally means something but not at the NLWA. The NLWA did not even have the courtesy to discuss the dates with me before releasing them as a resolution for approval at the last meeting, despite assurances that this would be done.

“The NLWA is fully aware of the difficulty dates at that time of year can cause.”

An NLWA spokesman said: “The dates for authority meetings for the forthcoming year are proposed at the Annual General Meeting in June.

“Factors the authority takes into account in proposing dates include religious holidays and our own statutory financial reporting deadlines which particularly affect the September and February meetings.

“A request to change the proposed September meeting date was put forward at the AGM for consideration. However, at this time of year it is particularly difficult to provide a range of alternatives and on this occasion a date that suited all Members could not be found.”

Leytonstone councillor Clyde Loakes, chairman of the NLWA, said “Councillor Cohen in particular has served for many years as vice chair of the authority, and I’m sure Councillor Zinkin would have made a positive contribution.

“I therefore regret the decision by these Barnet members to resign. We look forward to the leader and deputy leader of Barnet now joining the authority.”’